Taking Progesterone SUPPOSITORIES 600 MG twice a day!

by Rachel xoxo
(So Cal)

Hi, I am a 31 year old woman & new to this site. I was looking up info about progesterone because I was recently started on it by a naturopath (who I am NOT impressed with) and I am having HORRIBLE symptoms. After reading the comments on here & Wray's information, I feel like I know SO much more about what is happening to my body. I have been sooo unbelievably irritable & tired...my husband & kids are ready to lock me up!! I just feel crazy, which is ironic because that's the whole reason I initially went to the natural doctor- because my PMS was making me insane every month!!!

Anyway, the dr. didn't tell me I might bleed in the middle of the month (which I am) or that I might feel like a nut job for the first couple months. He just saw me, talked to me about everyone he's magically helped & sent me on my way with 600 mg suppositories (that's right, I have to insert them rectally!! Twice a day!!!) He claims that cream progesterone is not good enough- your body only absorbs 5%...whereas the suppositories is 95%. Is it just me, or does that seem REALLY far-fetched? Did I mention he sells the suppositories in his office? $90 for 45 of them. I did some research & made some phone calls & found out my insurance actually covers compounded progesterone.

What does everyone think...Wray? Are you there? Help if you are :) Should I switch to cream? Is 600 mg 2x a day excessive? He told me the more PMS symptoms I experience, cramping, irritability, breast tenderness, etc...use more!! Up to 6 a day!!! What should I do? I want to feel normal- this sucks & I can't function like this for much longer. I'm so over this!

Comments for Taking Progesterone SUPPOSITORIES 600 MG twice a day!

Hi Rachel I love your humour, in spite of the problems! Where to start? Firstly are you using the suppositories daily, ie not following your cycle? If this is the case, this is the reason you bled in the middle of your cycle. Although initially progesterone can upset the cycle, but only by a few days, making it slightly early or late. It's evident you have excess oestrogen, as you mention bad PMS. When first starting progesterone it can get worse as it stimulates oestrogen, causing Oestrogen Dominance. 1200mg/day should have stopped this very quickly. It would be far better to use the suppositories as pessaries and insert them in your vagina. Although the rectum has a plentiful supply of blood vessels, so does the vagina. But it has direct access to the uterus, ovaries etc. Although you will have to use a suppository in the morning, as the contents tend to leak out when walking. I don't know where he got the info we only absorb 5% from a cream. I would agree if he was talking about oral progesterone, it's the least effective Delivery system, but the cream is absorbed very well. The one advantage of the cream over all the other systems is it can be used anywhere. Excellent for headaches if rubbed all over the neck and under the ears, for period cramps rub it on the tummy, for sore breasts rub it directly on them, for a sore or dry vagina, some can be used there. 1200mg/day is not harmful, this is approximately the amount given via IV transfusion to brain trauma victims. Mostly men I might add! But as you are not in a coma, I don't believe you need that much! I recommend women use 100-200mg/day, dependant on symptoms. Initially using the higher amount to prevent or reduce the effect progesterone has on stimulating oestrogen. Once this phase has passed, to then reduce the amount slowly till the optimum is found. Progesterone should normally be used from ovulation if there is a cycle. If you are using it daily, 1200mg/day will act as a contraceptive, ie prevent ovulation. I can only suggest you try reducing the amount slowly, you will have to cut the suppositories up to do this. And follow your cycle too. If you're not sure when you ovulate, all women, irrespective of the cycle length, ovulate 12-14 days before bleeding. Do keep in touch, I've never come across someone given so much progesterone. In severe cases yes, the TBI victims I mentioned, and Dr Dalton would give up to 2400mg/day for her patients with post natal psychosis. But for PMS she used up to 800mg/day, via pessaries. Although I've found lower amounts work well too. It really depends on the individual, their stress levels, their environment, their food, many factors play a role. Take care Wray

Apr 16, 2012

Weight gain with natural progesterone pessariesby: NANCY

hi,Thanks Wray for all your wonderful advice. I am using natural progesterone pessaries 200mg at night for one week now. I have since gained weight,have headaches, feel lethargic and irritable. What should i do?Note: treating estrogen dorminace.

Apr 17, 2012

Weight gain with natural progesterone pessariesby: Wray

Hi Nancy Thanks for the kind words! Although the 200mg/day is a good amount, it doesn't stop Oestrogen Dominance from occurring. I've found 400mg/day and more are needed for this. It will eventually settle down, if you can weather the symptoms. The only solution is to use more. Initially progesterone does stimulate oestrogen, but given time it does become the dominant hormone, which is the aim. The weight gained is from water, not fat, that takes much longer to form. Oestrogen causes water retention, see here,here,here and here. Progesterone is an excellent diuretic, see our page on TBI. The headaches too, oestrogen is an inflammatory hormone, progesterone an anti-inflammatory, and it does help headaches, see here,here,here,here,here,here,here and here. The same goes for the lethargy and irritableness. It's better to use progesterone for a minimum of twice a day, as levels begin dropping after 13 hrs. Can you try cutting them in half, and using it am and pm? Please see our pages on How to use progesterone cream and Peri-menopause for more info. Take care Wray

May 08, 2012

IN DIRE NEED OF YOUR CREAM IN KENYAby: NANCY

Hi Wray,It is me again. I followed your advice and used the higher dosage of the pessaries 400mg a day and yes the estrogen dominace symptoms abated albeit not all. still feeling a bit fatigued, sleepy and not losing weight despite working out at eating 1500 calories/day.Anyways, my two sons are also using the pills as well as my husband for ADHD and i have noted a big improvement on their symptoms but i would like to use the cream instead but unfortunately it is not available in kenya. I would like to request you if it possible to supply this to Nairobi, Kenya and i will have to pay you via direct bank transfer or money transfer(western union) as cards haven't caught on in this side of the planet. I am a medical doctor and i have come across loads of people who will benefit from your product. I will need a constant supply...please help...discounts will be highly appreciated.yours truly,Nancy.P.s: thanks for the wonderful work you are doing. God bless you.

May 10, 2012

IN DIRE NEED OF YOUR CREAM IN KENYAby: Wray

Hi Nancy Bless you for the kind words! I'm delighted the higher amount has helped, and so pleased your husband and sons were not averse to using it too. We have many men using it to good affect. You might all be interested in reading some of their comments, see here,herehere,here,here,here and here. If your husband has ADHD it could be his dopamine is low. Is he stressed? As this sends dopamine plummeting. Progesterone does raise it slightly, as it's a mono amine oxidase inhibitor. Allopregnanolone, a metabolite of progesterone, increases dopamine levels, see here. AlloP is hard to get hold of! But if enough progesterone is supplied the body does convert it. Apart from raising dopamine, it's a potent analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic. Maybe he could consider trying tyrosine, the precursor amino acid to dopamine. Tyrosine is essential for any stressful situation, cold, fatigue, emotional trauma, prolonged work, sleep deprivation, it improves memory, cognition and physical performance. ADD patients have significantly lower levels of tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, histidine and isoleucine. Although I believe the significant nutrient is tyrosine. We have more info on how to take it on our page Natural Antidepressants. The rate limiting step in dopamine synthesis is the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase. Insufficient levels of vitamin D inhibit tyrosine hydroxylase, resulting in a disturbance in the dopamine pathway. Please would you all have vitamin D tests done, it's such an important nutrient, low in most of us. Mine was only 34ng/ml when first checked, I was shocked, but then I do spend all day indoors. It's now 92ng/ml. It doesn't seem to matter how sunny a country is, we all spend far too many hours indoors now. Continued below.

May 10, 2012

IN DIRE NEED OF YOUR CREAM IN KENYA Part 2by: Wray

Hi Nancy For more info on vitamin D levels, test kits etc see the Vitamin D Council,GrassrootsHealth,Birmingham Hospital and Vitamin D Links websites. Blood levels should be 70-100ng/ml or 175-250nmol/L and not the 30ng/ml or 75nmol/L most labs and doctors regard as adequate. The minimum daily dose should be 5000iu's per day, although the latest research indicates it should be 10,000iu's per day, see here. If you can't have the test done in Kenya, I know it's not done in Zimbabwe, although it is in South Africa, your best bet is Birmingham Hospital. They send test kits overseas for £25, and the results back by email. But ignore their 'adequate' levels, far too low! They are also cheaper than ZRT another very good lab. It could be you have Insulin Resistance as this makes weight loss very difficult. IR is caused by excess oestrogen and testosterone, and low vitamin D. In fact this last is critical for weight loss, see here,here,here,here,here,here and here.Continued below.

May 10, 2012

IN DIRE NEED OF YOUR CREAM IN KENYA Part 3by: Wray

Hi Nancy Please don't reduce calories, this only makes the thyroid slow down, which effectively stops weight loss! You have to eat enough to keep metabolism fast, but this is dependant on what food. Avoid all grains, all legumes, dairy and sweet starchy fruits and veggies. I try to follow Dr Cordain's Paleo Diet, makes a great deal of sense to me. There's a link to his site on our Nutrition page. Dr Mercola is good for finding out your metabolic type, and of course the raw food sites are good, but not easy to follow for most people. I try to incorporate as much raw as I can into the Paleo way of eating. I must end before I give you indigestion! I have made enquiries about your money transfer request, so will get back to you as soon as I've heard if it's possible. We do have discounts…..1 tube - $24.703 tubes - $69.00 ($23.00 per tube)20-99 tubes - $345.00 ($17.25 per tube)100+ tubes - $1,265.00 ($12.65 per tube)

As you're a doctor you could import in bulk with no problems. Take care Wray

May 11, 2012

APPRECIATIONby: NANCY

Thanks a lot Wray.

I will follow your advice and hope to hear from you soon on the money transfer.

May 11, 2012

APPRECIATIONby: Wray

Hi Nancy Well I've had a favourable response, it remains for the formalities to be set up. But I'll come back to you those. Take care Wray

May 14, 2012

APPRECIATIONby: Wray

Hi Nancy We can help you. Please would you fill in the form on this page here. This will take you through to the admin department who will take it from there. I gave you the bulk discounts, please choose whichever you feel suits. They will explain or discuss payment methods. Take care Wray

Feb 21, 2014

progesterone cream vaginallyby: Kim

Dear Wray,

I hope this note will get to you, I noticed it says you are taking a sabbatical. I am also suffering from perimenopausal and have tried to use 400 mg progesterone cream per day, but my symptoms have gotten worse. I am more tired and have even gained more weight in 2 weeks. I have just started to up the dosage to 600-800 mg per day to see if this would help. I also read somewhere that it might be better to try vaginally??? Could we just use the progesterone cream we are using now and insert it vaginally or do we have to buy a special cream made for vaginal insertion. How and where do we put the cream? Thank you so much for all your help.

Although this web site is not intended to be prescriptive, it is intended, and hoped, that it will induce in you a sufficient level of scepticism about some health care practices to impel you to seek out medical advice that is not captive to purely commercial interests, or blinded by academic and institutional hubris. You are encouraged to refer any health problem to a health care practitioner and, in reference to any information contained in this web site, preferably one with specific knowledge of progesterone therapy.